METHOD FOR FILLING A CARTRIDGE WITH FLUID AND CARTRIDGE FOR USE THEREIN

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for filling with fluid (9) a cartridge (1) which is open on at least one side and which has at least one capillary element (3) debouching on the open side, by placing the cartridge with the open side so far into a container (8) containing the fluid that the capillary element makes contact with the fluid and by retaining the cartridge in this position until the capillary element is at least partially filled with fluid. By this method for instance an ink cartridge may be easily (re)filled by a user. The invention further relates to a cartridge for use in this method, having a sleeve open on at least one side and at least one capillary element received therein and debouching on the open side. The cartridge may comprise a number of parallel fibers (3) which are arranged with mutual interspacing and which form a number of capillary elements, and may be manufactured from biodegradable material. The cartridge may for instance be used as an ink cartridge, a perfume or the like. Finally, the invention relates to a container for use in the method as described, provided with a housing having a closable access opening and at least one capillary element accessible through the access opening.

Description: METHOD FOR FILLING A CARTRIDGE WITH FLUID AND CARTRIDGE FOR USE THEREIN The present invention relates to a method for filling with fluid a cartridge which is open on at least one side and which has at least one capillary element debouching on the open side, by placing the cartridge with the open side so far into a container containing the fluid and like¬ wise having a capillary element that the capillary element of the cartridge makes contact with the capillary element present in the container and retaining the cartridge in this position until its capillary element is at least partially filled with fluid. Such a method is known from O-A-9220531. Past known methods for filling for instance ink cartridges consisted of injecting a quantity of ink into the cartridge and subsequently closing the cartridge, for in¬ stance by welding. The cartridge filled with ink could then be opened by the user arranging it in a pen, and was not re- closable. All the ink present in the cartridge therefore had to be used without a prolonged delay. This method did not lend itself to application by a user and the cartridges filled in this manner were not refillable and/or reusable. Methods for filling a cartridge of a fountain pen were further known wherein the cartridge was placed in a container with ink and subsequently filled by displacing a piston present in the pen. This method was complicated and required an expensive filling mechanism in the pen. The method described in O-A-9220531 represents an improvement to the above cited conventional filling method. Use is made in this method of a container filled with ink in which a capillary element is received. This capillary ele¬ ment debouches with its one end in the vicinity of the bottom of the container, while its other outer end debouches into an insert arranged in the neck of the container. Into the insert can be placed a pen or an ink cartridge which then comes to lie on the free outer end of the capillary element. Further arranged in the insert is a venting apertu- re which connects the interior of the container to the ambient air. Ambient air can hereby penetrate into the container when the ink is drawn therefrom by the capillary action of the capillary element and the connecting pen or cartridge. Filling of the cartridge by making use of its own capillary action enables dispensing with complicated and costly filling mechanisms. The invention now has for its object to provide a capillary filling method for cartridges with an improved transfer of the fluid. According to the invention this is achieved in that from the point of contact of the capillary elements the cartridge is carried further into the container with resilient deformation and/or displacement of at least one of the capillary elements. A better contact is hereby obtained between the capillary elements, whereby the fluid transfer can take place more simply and rapidly than in the known method, where the capillary elements only rest on each other. Preferably applied variants of the method accor¬ ding to the invention form the subject-matter of the sub- claims 2-5. The invention further relates to a container which can be applied in the above described method. Already known from the stated publication WO-A-9220531 is a container which is provided with a housing having a closable access opening and with a capillary element accessible through the access opening. The container for use in the method accor¬ ding to the present invention is distinguished from this known container by resilient means connected to the capilla¬ ry element for enhancing the fluid transfer. Due to the presence of such resilient fluid transfer enhancing means a cartridge or pen can be filled rapidly and simply with fluid using this container. Further preferred embodiments of this container are described in the sub-claims 7-12. The invention also has for its object to provide an improved cartridge with which the above described method can be performed. For this purpose the invention provides a cartridge provided with a sleeve open on at least one side and at least one capillary element received therein and debouching on the open side. A very efficient cartridge is characterized by a number of parallel fibres which are arranged with mutual interspacing and which form a number of capillary elements. The capillary action is very considera¬ ble due to the large surface area of the fibres. In order to reduce as far as possible the environ¬ mental impact when the user no longer wishes to refill a cartridge, the sleeve and the capillary elements are prefe- rably each manufactured from a biodegradable material. Finally, the invention also relates to applicati¬ ons of the above described cartridges. The invention is now elucidated in the light of a number of embodiments, wherein reference is made to the annexed drawing, in which corresponding components have the same reference numerals, and in which: fig. 1 shows a partly cut away perspective view of a cartridge and a container for use in the method according to the invention, fig. 2 is a view corresponding with fig. 1 of the cartridge and the container during filling, fig. 3 is a view corresponding with fig. 1 of a pen with an ink cartridge according to the invention and a container, fig. 4 shows the pen and container of fig. 3 during filling, fig. 5 is a partly cut away perspective view with exploded parts of a pen and a second embodiment of the cartridge according to the invention, fig. 6 is a view of the parts shown in fig. 5 in assembled state, fig. 7 shows schematically the filling of the car¬ tridge according to the second embodiment of the invention, fig. 8 is a perspective view of an item of jewel- lery with a third embodiment of the cartridge according to the invention, fig. 9 is a perspective view of a fourth embodi¬ ment of the cartridge according to the invention, fig. 10 shows in partial cross section a side view of a second embodiment of the container according to the invention, fig. 11 is a top view of the container shown in fig. 10, and fig. 12 shows in partial cross section a side view of the container of fig. 10 and 11 in combination with a pen and a fifth embodiment of the cartridge according to the invention. A refillable cartridge 1 (fig. 1) comprises a sleeve 2 and a filling 3 consisting of at least one capilla¬ ry element. The filling 3 is formed by a large number of parallel fibres 4 arranged with mutual interspacing which together form the capillary elements. Sleeve 2 is open on the underside and the capillary elements debouch into the open side of sleeve 2. Further arranged on the open side of sleeve 2 is a resiliently deformable, liquid-transferring contact element 5, for instance in the form of a felt cushi¬ on. The cartridge 1 is received in a carrier 6 which is closed with a cap 7. Cartridge 1 can be filled with a fluid, for example ink 9 from a container 8. Container 8 has a neck 11, which defines a filling opening, and a capillary element 14 which protrudes into this filling opening. The container 8 is closed with a cover 10. Like cartridge 1, the capillary element 14 has a resiliently deformable and liquid-transfer¬ ring contact element 15. Due to the presence in container 8 of a capillary element 14 a cartridge 1 for filling only has to be placed so far into container 8 that it makes contact with the capillary element 14. The insertion depth is there- fore independent of the fluid level in container 8. For an optimum capillary action from the first point of contact of cartridge 1 with capillary element 14, the cartridge 1 is pressed in slightly further, thus deforming the contact elements 5,15. The distance through which cartridge 1 is inserted into container 8 is determined by stop elements connected to cartridge 1 and container 8. These stop elements are formed by ribs 13 arranged in the neck 11 of container 8 and a widened portion 12 of carrier 6 (fig. 2) . The height of the ribs 13 and of the widened portion 12 are adapted to the lengths of cartridge 1 and capillary element 14 and the thickness of their corresponding contact elements 5 and 15 respectively in non-deformed state such that these contact elements 5,15 are pressed firmly against each other and make good fluid-transferring contact when the widened portion 12 rests on ribs 13. Because the contact elements 5,15 are resiliently deformable, variations in the distance between cartridge 1 and capillary element 14 can be compensated within determined limits. An excellent fluid transfer is thus also ensured when cartridge 1 is not fully inserted in container 8 or when as a result of production tolerances there are length differences between cartridges and/or capillary elements. The widened portion 12 further fits closely-sized in the neck 11 of container 8. A venting aperture 16 in neck 11 provides the supply and discharge of air essential for a rapid transfer of ink from container 8 to cartridge 1. After cartridge 1 has been filled the car- rier 6 is pulled out of the neck 11 of container 8, wherein contact elements 5,15 spring back to their non-deformed starting position, and carrier 6 and container 8 are closed with their covers 7,10. Cartridge 1 can be stored thus until it has to be used in the case of an ink cartridge, for instance in a writing implement. Cartridge 1 can then be removed from carrier 6 and inserted into the writing implement, for instance a fountain pen 17 (fig. 3) . A capillary connecting part 20 therein protrudes into the upper part of cartridge 1 and provides transport of the ink out of cartridge 1 via another capilla¬ ry 21 to the pen point 22. The capillary connecting part 20 can, like cartridge 1, be formed by a sleeve and a number of fibres present therein, while the main capillary 21 is an injection moulded component normally employed in fountain pens. When the ink cartridge 1 according to the invention is applied this main capillary 21 can take a considerably smaller form than in conventional fountain pens. When the ink cartridge 1 is exhausted it can be refilled simply by removing a cap 19 on the underside of a housing 18 of fountain pen 17 and inserting fountain pen 17 with cartridge 1 into the neck 11 of a refilling container 8 (fig. 4) . The underside of the body 18 of fountain pen 17 and the neck 11 of refilling container 8 once again have co- acting stop elements. The stop elements 13 in the neck 11 of container 8 can be identical to those shown in fig. 1 and 2, but can also be adapted to the form of the pen body 18. For this purpose the refilling container 8 can be simply provi¬ ded with an exchangeable neck 11 so that it can be used for refilling cartridges 1 accommodated in a fountain pen 17 as well as for filling new cartridges received in a carrier 6. Because filling and refilling of cartridge 1 with the method according to the invention takes place by making use of the capillary action, the filling operation can be performed easily by the user of the cartridge itself. The user will hereby be more likely to refill the cartridge and use it again, whereby a saving of material and reduction in waste is achieved relative to the conventional disposable cartridges. There is moreover no necessity herein for a complicated, costly filling mechanism with moving parts which is susceptible to disturbance. In order to reduce as far as possible the impact on the environment when a cartridge 1 is nevertheless final¬ ly thrown away, it can be manufactured from biodegradable material. The sleeve 2 of cartridge 1 can for instance be wrapped with cardboard (fig. 5) , while its filling 3 can be made from a natural fibre, for example cotton. Cartridge 1 can further have a contact element 5 made of paper for closing the open side. Such a cartridge can be applied in a fountain pen as shown in fig. 3 and 4 as well as in any other random fountain pen, for instance as shown in fig. 5 and 6. Cartridge 1 can also be refilled simply by being dipped in an ink container 8 without capillary element or stop element. Cartridge 1 can, as stated above, be filled with ink, but other fluids also lend themselves to containment in such a cartridge. The cartridge 1 can for instance be filled with a cosmetic preparation, such as eau de toilette or perfume for instance, or with any other type of fluid which has to be spread via surface contact, such as cleaning fluids and the like. In the applications of fig. 8 and 9 the cartridge 1 is filled with a cosmetic preparation and packa¬ ged such that it is always easily accessible. The cartridge can for instance be received in an item of jewellery 24 such as a watch, with a strap 25 and a casing 26 in which a recess 27 is arranged for receiving cartridge 1. The car¬ tridge 1 can then be provided with a hand-grip 28 with which it can be pulled out of recess 27, after which the user can apply the fluid present in cartridge 1 for instance by dabbing or brushing on. The cartridge 1 can also be embodied flat and pro¬ vided with a slightly spherical filling 3 and accommodated in mutually facing recesses 27 in the lower and upper half 30,31 of a container 29 in credit card format mutually connected by a hinge 32. The user can thus unobtrusively carry with him the fluid held in cartridge 1. In a second embodiment of container 8 according to the invention (fig. 10) the fluid transfer enhancing means comprise a member 33 which supports the capillary element 14 and which is movable from and to an access opening defined by the neck 11 in container 8. For this purpose the support member 33 is arranged slidably in a cylindrical sleeve 35 and is held therein by spring biasing means 34 in its shown position closing the access opening. Sleeve 35 is received in fluid-tight manner in the neck 11 of container 8 and rests thereon with an overhanging flange 36, while a snap-in edge 37 provides fastening of sleeve 35. Support member 33 is provided with an annular gasket 39 which is pressed in the position shown against a bottom flange 38 of sleeve 35, whereby the interior of container 8 is closed off in air- tight manner from the environment. Support member 33 further comprises a substantially cylindrical body 41 in which the capillary element 14 is received and in which a number of slots 42 are arranged, whereby, when support member 33 is moved downward counter to the biasing force of spring 34, air can flow from the outside into the interior of container 8. Support member 33 is further provided with a stop 40 to limit its movement. Arranged on the upper part of sleeve 35 is an insert 44 which has a central aperture 45 into which a pen or cartridge can be inserted to gain access to the capillary element 14. The central aperture 45 is arranged in a central plate 46 of insert 44, wherein venting apertures 16 are further present between central plate 46 and the edge of insert 44. The air flows through these venting apertures 16 to the slots 42 of support member 33. A storage location 43 for the cover 10 of contai¬ ner 8 is further arranged on the upper side of container 8, on which location the cover can be fixed so that it will not be lost. This storage location 43 consists of a recess in the wall of container 8 and a peripheral rib 50 protruding therefrom, the dimensions of which correspond with those of the neck 11 of the container. The cover 10 is fixed onto the rib 50 in the same manner as on neck 11, for instance by screw or snap-in means. In this embodiment the container is not filled with ink 9 through the access opening, but a separate fil¬ ling opening 48 is present which is formed for example during blow-molding of the container 8 and through which the container can be filled standing on its opposite end. The filling opening 48 is then closed with a cover 49. With use of the container 8 for filling a cartrid¬ ge 1 of a pen 17, the latter is placed with its neck 47 into the aperture 45 of insert 44, wherein the pen tip 53 makes contact with capillary element 14. The pen is then pressed in further, wherein support member 33, in which capillary element 14 is arranged, is pressed downward into container 8. The spring 34 is herein compressed between the bottom flange 38 of sleeve 35 and an upper flange 52 of support member 33. By pressing downward the support member 33 the seal between gasket 39 and flange 38 is broken, whereby air can flow as according to arrows A into the container 8 via the apertures 16 in insert 44 and the slots 42 of support member 33. Due to the capillary action fluid 9 is drawn simultaneously as according to arrows F out of container 8 via the capillary element 14 and the pen tip 53 into the cartridge or filling 1. The dimensions of the neck 47 of pen 17 and the central aperture 45 in sleeve 35 are adapted to each other such that pen 17 is clamped in sleeve 35 and therefore remains in place despite the force exerted by spring 34. A snap-in system or a screwing system for instan- ce could of course be used instead of a clamping system. Container 8 is preferably manufactured from a resiliently flexible material, so that when cartridge 1 or pen 17 is inserted therein it can be pressed in to build up pressure in the interior of the container and thus further accelerate the fluid transfer. Due to the presence of the resiliently movable support member 33 not only is an excellent fluid transfer effected, but a good sealing of the container is also achie¬ ved when this is not in use. This prevents for instance leakage if the container tips over. *****

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Method for filling with fluid a cartridge which is open on at least one side and which has at least one capillary element debouching on the open side, by placing the cartridge with the open side so far into a container containing the fluid and likewise having a capillary element that the capillary element of the cartridge makes contact with the capillary element present in the container and by retaining the cartridge in this position until its capillary element is at least partially filled with fluid, characteri- zed in that from the point of contact of the capillary elements the cartridge is carried further into the container with resilient deformation and/or displacement of at least one of the capillary elements. 2. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that when the cartridge is inserted into the container a venting connection is also formed between the interior of the container and the ambient air. 3. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characteri¬ zed in that the cartridge and the container have co-acting stop elements and the cartridge is carried so far into the container that the stop elements rest against each other. 4. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the cartridge is clamped into the container. 5. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the container is pressed in after arranging therein of the cartridge. 6. Container evidently intended for use in the method as claimed in any of the claims 1-5, provided with a housing having a closable access opening and at least one capillary element accessible through the access opening, characterized by resilient means connected to the capillary element for enhancing the fluid transfer. 7. Container as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that fluid transfer enhancing means comprise a resilient- ly deformable, fluid-transferring contact element arranged on the side of the capillary element accessible through the access opening. 8. Container as claimed in claim 7, characterized by at least one stop element arranged close to the access opening. 9. Container as claimed in any of the claims 5-8, characterized in that the fluid transfer enhancing means comprise a member movable resiliently from and to the access openings and supporting the capillary element. 10. Container as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the support member is provided with sealing means and is biased by spring means to a rest position in which it closes off the container from the environment. 11. Container as claimed in claim 9 or 10, charac¬ terized by at least one stop element arranged between the support member and the container. 12. Container as claimed in any of the claims 6- 11, characterized in that it is manufactured at least par- tially from a resiliently flexible material. 13. Cartridge evidently intended for use in the method as claimed in any of the claims 1-5, characterized by a sleeve open on at least one side and at least one capilla¬ ry element received therein and debouching on the open side. 14. Cartridge as claimed in claim 13, characteri¬ zed by a number of parallel fibres which are arranged with mutual interspacing and which form a number of capillary elements. 15. Cartridge as claimed in claim 14, characteri- zed in that the capillary elements debouch on the open side into a resiliently deformable, fluid-transferring contact element. 16. Cartridge as claimed in any of the claims 13- 15, characterized in that the sleeve and the capillary ele- ments are each manufactured from biodegradable material. 17. Cartridge as claimed in claim 16, characteri¬ zed in that the sleeve is manufactured from cardboard and the capillary elements comprise cotton fibres. 18. Pen provided with at least one ink-filled car¬ tridge as claimed in any of the claims 13-17. 19. Item of jewellery provided with a closable housing and a cartridge as claimed in any of the claims 13- 17 received therein and filled with a cosmetic preparation. *****

Inventors: BROUWER MARCUS FRANCISCUS, BROUWER, MARCUS, FRANCISCUS
Applicants: BROUWER MARCUS FRANCISCUS, RAYCAP BV, BROUWER, MARCUS, FRANCISCUS, RAYCAP B.V.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B43K11
IPC codes: B43K5, B43K8, B43K11, B43L25